"Come, Yacoob, my heart is set on having one of your beautiful beetle-wing dresses. I want it for my cousin," she added, turning to Mrs. Fellowes, "I think she would like one done on black best."
"Salaams, mem-sahib, but I only have the best shining beetle-wings," said Ismail, making a cringing progress towards Hester as he held up yards of net embroidered with iridescent beetle-wings.
"Now, let's examine this!" said Mrs. Fellowes. "Since you want a dress, the net must, at least, be new! This is lovely work, Ismail, but what about the net! It isn't black, it's the colour of dusty spider's web! Let me see one of yours, Yacoob."
The little man brought the required length with a gracious salaam and an assured smile.
"Now, this will do, the net is jet black and strong!"
"Very well, I'll have this, Yacoob," said Hester. "How much does it cost?"
A very moderate price was named, but at once Ismail came forward saying harshly: "Too much charging, mem-sahib. I giving for seven rupees less. A very best one too--not one I shewing first."
He turned to rummage in his bales, but Hester was not to be moved. Little Yacoob's beetle-wing dress was laid aside to be admired for many a day across the sea.
Fortunately for Ismail he was able to display some wares which Yacoob's slender capital did not admit of, so that he was not without profit in the morning's dealings; but being of a surly, jealous disposition he owed a fresh grudge against Yacoob that he should have been preferred, and a still more bitter grudge against the butler for his share in the transaction.
At length all the purchases were completed. Yacoob was departing with a lightened bale of goods and a full purse, his old face wearing an air of gracious courtesy, when a corner of the rattan blinds was lightly pushed aside and a girl's face appeared.
"Why, that is the girl I was telling you about, Mrs. Fellowes!" exclaimed Hester. "How good you happen to be here! Perhaps she has thought better of it and come to enrol."
Hester rose from her chair, and hurried across the verandah. The blind had been dropped, but when she raised it, there stood the girl, spell-bound, it seemed, staring intently with parched lips and dilating eyes on the young wife who looked at her with a friendly smile.